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If you or your loved ones suffer from asthma and allergies, you will likely do almost any and everything to protect your sinuses from irritants. According to the American College of Allergies, Asthma & Immunology, over 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year! While we might not be able to give you the cure to coughing, sneezing, or watery eyes, it is possible to make your home an allergy-free sanctuary. After all, home should be an escape from the outdoor irritants, right? When you think about it, transforming your home into a hypoallergenic paradise can seem like an overwhelming task. To make this a more manageable process, we’ve broken down the process in to five easy and maintainable rules that you can start practicing today to help you create a hypoallergenic home.
1. Stick to a Cleaning Routine
Step one to an allergy-free home is keeping it as clean as possible, as often as possible. If you struggle with maintaining a regular cleaning schedule, it may be time to hire help! A housekeeper can help you keep up with some of the little chores like dusting fans, blinds, and curtains, vacuuming, and sweeping that help keep your home dust free. ;
2. All Natural Is a Necessity
If you aren’t already using all natural, non-toxic cleaning and household products, it’s time to make the switch! For some individuals, even toilet paper can be an irritant! The chemicals and irritants in standard household products could be provoking already sensitive sinuses. It’s easy to find all-natural, chemical free, and even organic household products just about anywhere these days. These products are designed to be irritant free for allergy sufferers.
If you're the DIY type and want to try making your own cleaning products, you can start by stocking up on staples like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. There are many resources online about how to make your own cleaning products that work just as well as store bought brands, without having to sacrifice irritating your allergies.
3. Sanitize Your Sanctuary
Bedrooms can be the household hub of indoor irritants. Mattresses, sheets, and pillows are magnets for invisible allergens, such as dust mites. Consider covering your pillows, mattress and box spring in dust-mite-proof covers. You’ll also want to remember to wash all bedding weekly, in hot water. To get a deeper clean, you can use a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) vacuum on your mattress and pillows while the linens are in the wash.
4. Put an End to Pet Dander
We all love and treat our pets just like family, but when it comes to controlling your allergies, you may want to set a regular grooming schedule and boundaries on the bedroom. If you keep pets out of the bed, or the entire bedroom, you can minimize the amount of pet dander in your bedroom and on your bedding, ensuring you’re able to get a good night’s sleep. Also, preventing pet dander in the air is easy when you stick to a regular grooming schedule.
5. Clean Air Is a Must
It seems obvious, but keeping the air clean in your home is a must-do for the allergy and asthma prone. Using HEPA filters can trap and filter out invisible dander in the air. You’ll also want to keep your windows sealed and closed to prevent outdoor pollen from blowing inside on a windy day! You can also invest in a good quality (and HEPA-friendly) air purifier to filter allergens out and a dehumidifier to prevent mold.
Although we know it’s impossible to entirely erase allergens from our everyday life, coming home can be a relief if you follow a strict cleaning schedule to ensure your home is a dust, dirt, and allergy-free zone. This extra time and dedication to reducing allergens from your home can help you wake up refreshed, breathing easier, and ready to take on a new day!
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